[Novel] True Sangheili (Part 39 available!) ~ 18 December

SCHOLAR, SOLDIER, HERETIC... SAVIOUR.
At first, the life of a warrior in the Covenant army seems a noble one. But are the motives behind the war with the humans as innocent as the Sangheili, Sorran, believes? An act of heresy unveils a conspiracy spanning thousands of years, which could bring about the total ruin of the Covenant.
[i]
True Sangheili[/i], from the fan fiction author of [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=31052475]Halo 3: Insurrection[/url] and [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=27927918]Memoirs of an ODST[/url].
[u]
==[b]CHAPTER LISTING[/b]==[/u]
[b]Book I[/b] ([url=http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4iUh3dauqsjN2QzMjBjYzQtZGE2Ny00ZDUzLThlZTQtNDIwMDJjYTBjNTk3&hl=en]PDF[/url])
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35203356]Prologue + Chapter list[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35203379]Part One - Sorran[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35253886]Part Two - Warrior[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35297818]Part Three - Besieged[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35673800]Part Four - Into Custody[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true#36184265]Part Five - Interrogated[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#36420291]Part Six - Assessment[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#36697145]Part Seven - Covert Extraction[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#37436099]Part Eight - To kill a Demon[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=3#37531866]Part Nine - Immortal Repentance[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=3#37685366]Part Ten - Insertion[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=3#37728386]Part Eleven - To show mercy[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=4#37912997]Part Twelve - Heresy, of the greatest kind[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=4#37970850]Part Thirteen - Trial and Punishment[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=5#38158685]Part Fourteen - Factions within Factions[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=6#38396722]Part Fifteen - The Truth[/url]
[b]Book II[/b]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=7#39673575]Part Sixteen - Life goes on[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=7#39888838]Part Seventeen - Things never go according to plan[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=9#41709559]Part Eighteen - The sound of battle[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=10#43058906]Part Nineteen - Old habits die hard[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=10#43585008]Part Twenty - Cultural differences[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=11#49109093]Part Twenty One - Personified Death[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=12#50885734]Part Twenty Two - Breaking Point[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=14#51826058]Part Twenty Three - Turnabout[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=19#54241416]Part Twenty Four - Breaking free[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=21#55868885]Part Twenty Five - Mutiny[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=23#57570727]Part Twenty Six - Skirmishes, and Reflections[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=24#58101291]Part Twenty Seven - Shrouded Heresy[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=24#58896376]Part Twenty Eight - Signs and Portents[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=25#59170042]Part Twenty Nine -Parted Reunion[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=26#60763537]Part Thirty - Honour[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=29#62705377]Part Thirty One - Visitations to the past[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=30#63447045]Part Thirty Two - Loss concealed within victory[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=32#63843302]Part Thirty Three - The best intentions[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=34#64909520]Part Thirty Four -The Tower came crashing down.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=38#66761388]Part Thirty Five - Blood runs thick, brotherhood runs thicker.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=42#68771851]Part Thirty Six - For whom the bell tolls, for whom hell calls.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=45#70648196]Part Thirty Seven - Daggers in a cloak.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=50#73021323]Part Thirty Eight - Gods and their weapons.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=53#76375771]Part Thirty Nine - Trials of Delphi.[/url]
[i]Next chapter ETA: Valve Time[/i]
**** ***** ***** ****** *****
[b]Prologue[/b]
[i]Edict of the Most High Prophet of Truth, 9th Age of Reclamation.[/i]
By the authority of the noble Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy.
Henceforth, any and all battle worthy Sangheili are to be transferred from any idle posts in High Charity and/or upon any Covenant held world/ship into the active combat. Those amongst the excused are the Honour Guard, the Councillors, and the mentally ill, physically unfit, and the old. Female Sangheili are, as always, prohibited from taking part in any military action.
Any Sangheili engaged in a guard post, other than the Honour Guard, will be replaced by the Jiralhanae until such a time as the High Council deems otherwise. Any Jiralhanae in question of where they now stand shall direct all enquiries to Tartarus, Chieftain of the Jirahanae.
Failure to adhere to this edict will result in death. No exceptions. These are trying times, my brothers. The Human infidels persist in resisting the might of the Covenant. Rest assured, this 'war' as some are calling it, will be over soon -- to be forgotten and dismissed as an insignificant event in Covenant history.
[Edited on 12.17.2012 5:35 PM PST]

*
"Hierarch! You need to wake up."
Regret was slow to stir from beneath his quilts and duvets, made of rich fabrics from the most exotic corners of the empire. Not matter how many times he saw it, Amn always thought it -blam!- when he saw the noble prophet without his robes and headpiece of office; he looked just like any other member of his ugly race, albeit leaner through battle and exercise. A young woman lay in bed next to him, asleep; no doubt one of his many concubines. She did not rouse.
"Amn. What is it?" Regret asked groggily, rubbing the sleep from his drooping eyes. His familiarity was nothing new, but it still made Amn feel uncomfortable; Obligation had never addressed him by his birth-name - it had always been 'guard' or 'light.' Now was not the time for pointless protests, though.
"You're required in the council chambers for an emergency meeting. Truth and Mercy are already there, as are all the high councillors. Come, quickly."
Amn was already moving to open the door, taking care not to let his ornate cloak catch on any of Regret's many tomes - Covenant and human alike. The latter were banned throughout all the empire, but the laws did not apply to those who made them.
"Wait. What's happening?" Regret asked after him, hearing the urgency in Amn's voice and garbing himself hastily; Amn frowned disapprovingly and adjusted the man's crown, which was askew. At least he did not have to carry the man over to a gravity chair; Regret fought against the paraplegic ails that so often plagued his kind, training every day - at best he was as strong as an average kig-yarl, but it meant he could walk with a straight back and fight too; he was admired by many Sangheili for his dedication to dignity.
"High Charity jumped while you slept, hierarch. Jumped to... Harvest. We're in danger."
"Harvest?" Regret demanded with indignation. "Who sanctioned this? We do not take the holy city to areas of risk--"
"It wasn't sanctioned," Amn explained, knowing they should already have been on their way to the council chambers. "Someone sabotaged the auxiliary impulse drives... it'll be a long time before the Huragok can jump us again."
"Damn that Ossoona's incompetence... it has to be them," Regret muttered, and Amn frowned. He knew better than to question any of the hierarch's frequent mumbling though.
"There's a human fleet by the planet, hierarch, and Thierr'ee's fleet wasn't in our sphere of influence when we void-jumped. A hail has been sent to the garrison at the nearest colony, but they will take time... High Charity--"
"She moves faster through the void than standard ships, by the grace of the Forerunners," Regret finished. He nodded. "We must make haste to the council chambers, Amn. Guard me well as we walk, on this day I trust not a single shadow."
They left through the door swiftly, and hastened down the long corridor of Regret's mansion. On the way Regret paused to stare out of the window and look at the skies around High Charity; his heavy brow furrowed with worry when he saw the human fleet, which hadn't moved to engage yet. No small wonder; High Charity was a behemoth amongst starships, they would never have seen anything of its ilk.
"What of the home flotilla?" Regret asked Amn quietly as they moved, and too slowly for his liking. He would not dare suggest he carry the hierarch on his back to quicken their progress.
"Already being mobilised," Amn informed him. "But with all respect, they will not be enough."
"Of course not," Regret dismissed. "Not against an entire human fleet. They will buy us time, but we need a greater power if we're to survive this."
Amn knew what he meant, and it was not a new suggestion; when he had left the council chambers, there had been murmuring amongst the San 'Shyuum of the same intent. Even sworn as he was to serve the hierarchs, Amn could not hear such an extreme statement and keep his peace. He stopped and looked into Regret's eyes to convey his sincerity.
"That cannot happen," he told Regret. "Hierarch you may be, but the Writ is greater than all three of you together; its doctrine unquestionable. The Sangheili High Councillors will [i]never[/i] agree--"
"There has been a precedent," Regret argued. "In the 3rd Age of Disharmony, when the false Prophet of Cabal led his army of traitors to seize High Charity, the council met and debated over whether to give the dreadnought back its weapons--"
"And it took three days whilst the councillors argued, at which point Cabal had already laid siege to half the city," Amn countered just as readily. "Not to mention that it was finally done without the majority consent of the council, and the three hierarchs who ordered it were forced to step down afterwards."
"Then I will force the council to accept my plan," Regret decided. "The Writ be damned, over twenty million lives are at risk! If I should step down as hierarch afterwards, then so be it."
"Truth will not so readily surrender his power as you," Amn mentioned in conspirator's tones. Regret looked at him with an odd mixture of agreement and discomfort.
"My brother hierarch will do what is right. As you said, the Writ is greater than all three of us. If we break its accord, then we must stand down. It is the law."
"Do not be so sure. He would do anything to maintain his position," Amn shot back, and he could tell Regret knew this.
"It is not your place to say. It is our only option. Our only defence."
"I cannot in good faith as your adviser and loyal servant allow you to carry out with this folly without--"
"You're a good friend, Amn, but on this matter I will hear no objections," Regret finished as they reached the exit of the mansion. A dozen regular honour guards surrounded him in a tight box, and an executive transport awaited a few metres away. "I will not require your presence at the council chambers. Make sure my son is safe."
"As you command, hierarch, yet there is not much I can do once the humans break through High Charity's shield and start raining down fire upon the city."
"Just keep him safe, Amn," Regret pleaded, a father's worry about his eyes. "You know how much he means to me."
"And me, hierarch," Amn affirmed. "I have watched over him since that night--"
Regret shot him a stern look which silenced him, but nodded all the same and gave him a smile. Then the hierarch turned his back and strode towards the transport, leaving Amn standing in the early morning cold.
[i]'My son,' he says. I suppose Regret is all the father the boy will ever know, now that man is dead.[/i]
Amn looked up and saw the human fleet again, a host of black angels gathered about a frozen hell. It would not be so long before they moved to engage. He shuddered, and not for the briskness of the morning. The dreadnought loomed fiercely in the distance, and the reasons it had first been disarmed swam about his mind.
[i]To fight a war of men with the weapons of gods. It is blasphemy. Regret speaks truly though; if we do not use the dreadnought's power, High Charity is doomed. Forerunners forgive our heresy.[/i]
[Edited on 07.29.2012 2:12 AM PDT]

Here is a little teaser of what's coming next.
"That was amazing!" Ahkrin moaned as Tartarus made one last heavy against Ahkrins anus.
"You're amazing..." the brute whispered into Ahkrins ear
"I wonder what the babies will look like", Ahkrin wondered aloud as he peeled himself of the stick purple floor.
"Good question", Tartarus grunted, "We'll probably need to burn all of them though."

Being introduced to this through an anonymous person on YouTube, I decided to check is out. The past two days have been almost non- stop reading. I was instantly addicted. Learning that Wolvers is taking a break feels like a dagger in the back. So many questions to be answered. Will Zharn and Sorran meet together again, in what I hope is an emotional scene? Will Descol'ee fend off Tartarus and his murderous brutes? What are the human's hiding on Harvest? Hurry back Wolvers! We will all miss you and this amazing story!

“[i]Heeeey[/i]! You’re not a dead person!”
Startled by the Oracles exclamation, the Jiralhanae fell back into Jeann’ee. Collapsing under the brutes weight, Jeann’ee’s bones made an audible crack as the two fell to the floor.
“He’s out cold”, Tartarus grunted. The brute picked himself up off the floor and turned to Ahkrin.
“What’s this all about, [i]lobster[/i]?”
“Ooh, ooh, a guessing game. Let me play!” The Oracle bobbed between the two as it spoke.
“Who cares, kiss me you hairy bastard”, Ahkrins voice trembled with excitement as he approached Tartarus.
“What are you—“, the brutes eyes widened with surprise.
The two met on top of the glowing pedestal the Oracle had just arisen from. At first, they struggled to make their tongues meet, however eventually The Jiralhanae submitted to Ahkrin, permitting him to wrap his mandibles around his bald head while their tongues slide against the other. They remained this way for some time before Ahkrin finally released his grip around Tartarus’ head. The two collapsed to the ground. Both of them, grinning from ear to ear…
Sorry I haven’t had much time to work on this, guys, been busy at the club and exercising. Hopefully this will hold everyone over until I have proper time to finish a chapter.

Well, it's pretty clear that posting fan fiction on Bungie.next is impractical due to the chronology if nothing else. I'll continue writing this, but unless Bungie make a change after the Beta it's unlikely I'll be posting it on this site. It'll continue on fanfiction.net; I'll update the story there to Ch. 39 and carry on from there.
If anyone wants to read the current chapters in the meantime, there's a complete archive on the old Bnet [url=http://halo.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356]here.[/url] With the intended formatting and structure.
Stand firm in this... 'exchange of hats.' Ch. 40 ETA is March.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] vI RaGeZ Iv
[quote]Puis laughed, and moved to show Sorran out. They reached the door, and it opened to reveal a scarcely populated hangar bay with no aircraft save for a seraph in poor repair, and the banshee that would soon be Sorran's.
"I'd appreciate it," he said from the door, as Sorran walked down the stairs. "Oh, and Sorran?"
"Yes?" Sorran asked, pausing in his tracks. There was a silence between them for a few moments, and finally Puis spoke.
"This is awkward, but I was just sent a general alert and... well, you wouldn't happen to be the same Sorran wanted by the sanctum for High Councillor Restraint's murder, would--"
Sorran drew out his gun and threw himself back towards Puis, jamming the pistol in the man's neck and driving him back inside the office. Puis simply stared at him with calm.
[/quote]
This is now among my most favorite moments of all books I've ever read; ever.
Amazing work, Wolvers! [/quote]I finally took the time to read through the chapter. This section of the book put a smile on my face, something the Kilo 5 trilogy could never manage!
Oh and I just scrolled down after reading that post... only to find 2 more huge posts. D:
Edit:
That depiction of the Prophet of Mercy tells me that Halo 2 didn't flesh him out enough. He was somewhat ambiguous in the game but is solemn in this!
[Edited on 12.23.2012 10:28 PM PST]

Just finished the chapter. Excellent piece of writing. What's interesting is that I have noticed a lot of differences in your writing style. Your style of writing has almost matured in a way when compared to your original pieces.

That was a last-minute inclusion, because I felt Sorran needed a scene to get him on his way this chapter. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thinking of making a True Sangheili/Wolverfrog account on Twitter, purely for the purposes of sending everyone an alert when a new chapter's posted (which I'm guessing can be done, I don't use it personally). After a near sixth month wait, understandably people won't be checking for a new chapter every day and so I feel it'd be quite useful in the future, so you don't miss it.
Don't know how many of you guys use Twitter but if enough of you wouldn't mind following an account for that reason, I'd be happy to make one. Let me know.
[Edited on 12.19.2012 4:23 PM PST]

[quote]Puis laughed, and moved to show Sorran out. They reached the door, and it opened to reveal a scarcely populated hangar bay with no aircraft save for a seraph in poor repair, and the banshee that would soon be Sorran's.
"I'd appreciate it," he said from the door, as Sorran walked down the stairs. "Oh, and Sorran?"
"Yes?" Sorran asked, pausing in his tracks. There was a silence between them for a few moments, and finally Puis spoke.
"This is awkward, but I was just sent a general alert and... well, you wouldn't happen to be the same Sorran wanted by the sanctum for High Councillor Restraint's murder, would--"
Sorran drew out his gun and threw himself back towards Puis, jamming the pistol in the man's neck and driving him back inside the office. Puis simply stared at him with calm.
[/quote]
This is now among my most favorite moments of all books I've ever read; ever.
Amazing work, Wolvers!

"Perhaps you should take your nose out from your books more often, seer. Our Covenant is changing; the Sangheili will not have their power for much longer, I guarantee--"
"[i]So let us cast our arms aside, and like discard our wrath. Thou in faith will keep us safe, whilst we find the path.[/i] You know these words, brute?" the philologist asked, quoting scripture like it was a second language.
"The Writ of Union," the Jiralhanae answered almost immediately.
"A Writ we signed many thousands of years ago, with the Sangheili. [i]Not[/i] the Jiralhanae. The San 'Shyuum seek the sacred rings, and the Sangheili protect us. It has always been so, and will always be so. You and all the other races but are guests of our peoples' Journey, and should show respect to the Sangheili as well; not just the prophets."
"Holy seer, I have nothing but the utmost reverence for our holy crusade and the prophets who guide us, but the Sangheili--"
"Fall back some, brute; I have tired of you. And leave this Sangheili next to me. He's manacled, and I'm sure that barbaric weapon of yours will work just as well from a short distance as it will jammed into his back. That is a clerical command."
"By your word, philologist," the Jiralhanae muttered reluctantly, shooting Jeann'ee a venomous look before falling behind them several metres. The philologist glided closer to Jeann'ee, seemingly unafraid of a man branded as a criminal.
"When you reach my age, you stop fearing the possibility of harm so much," the philologist said to him, as if reading his mind. "I am interested to hear your side of the story, Sangheili. What is your name?"
"Kal Jeann'ee. Well, that is the name my mother gave me. As a bastard, I am forbidden to use the name of my noble father's house."
"Do not be embarrassed of that, my son. You could not change the happenstance of your birth; your father begot you upon one who was not his wife. That is his shame, not yours. Now tell me; why do these Jiralhanae name you a criminal?"
"Well, I am one," Jeann'ee confessed, feeling no reason to lie. "I sort of helm High Charity's underground. But that's not why these Jiralhanae are here. They're after Descol'ee."
"Your absent friend causing so much trouble," the philologist filled in. "Do you know why?"
"Descol'ee sought me out just less than a week ago, seeking sanctuary from the Covenant. He told me the High Councillor Restraint had been murdered, and that he could prove Truth had been the one to order the deed."
"A matter of politics, then," the philologist sighed. "They all slit each others throats up there, but it's rare they leave behind evidence that can be pinned on them. I imagine Truth has sent these Jiralhanae then, to clean up his mess."
"It must be so," Jeann'ee surmised. "And I've been caught up on his treachery. Of all the crimes I thought I'd one day die for, helping Ahkrin Descol'ee was never one of them."
"But why are you here?" the philologist pressed. "Why did you want to see the Oracle?"
"I don't know why Descol'ee wants to see him," Jeann'ee shrugged. [i]And I don't think I'll reveal my own motivations for coming to this dreadnought just yet.[/i] "Simple curiosity is the reason I'm here. Hearing the Oracle speak was a prospect I couldn't pass up."
"An understandable wish," the philologist said. "But a foolhardy one. The Oracle does not speak, and he has never done so. As I said, he has matters more pressing than our own mortal ones. Kal Jeann'ee, you seem a good sort regardless of your deeds. I will try my best to have the brutes spare your life, but if the sanctum declares otherwise then there is little I can do. My reach does not exert far outside these halls."
"Thank you, seer," Jeann'ee said back, and he meant it. "Even if your efforts fail, I will appreciate them all the same."
They stopped at an elevator, and the Jiralhanae caught up. He gave them both a suspicious glance, before grunting and swaggered onto the disc. The elevator was caught by an anti-gravity beam, and began to steadily rise.
"This will take us to the Oracle?" the brute demanded of the philologist bluntly, still upset over being dismissed so readily.
"He is sealed in a special chamber, behind the isolation bolt. This elevator leads almost directly to it."
"Good. The sooner the dreadnought's guns are activated, the better. I cannot breathe easy knowing the humans are so close, with us vulnerable."
"How do you think I feel, with you pointing that monstrosity at me?" Jeann'ee asked pointedly, eyeing the spiker rifle that was so close to his face he could smell the blood stained on it. He brought up his chained hands. "I am bound, what are you so scared of?"
"I would not be scared of a maggot like you even if you were armed to the teeth," the Jiralhanae swore, but he lowered his weapon all the same.
The elevator stopped, opening up into a long hallway. A barrier glimmered fiercely at the end of it, its blinding light dominating the room. The three of them stepped out and began to walk towards it.
"This is the isolation bolt you spoke of?" the Jiralhanae asked of the philologist, who nodded slowly. "Can you disable it?"
"Yes," the philologist replied. "But if I do, you must surrender this Sangheili over to my authority. I will have the dreadnought's guards process him accordingly, and by the book."
A great frown descended upon the Jiralhanae's face, and Jeann'ee was shot a filthy glare. The beast scowled, and threw up his hands in submission.
"Fine, if it pleases you so. This one means nothing to us; make him your steward for all I care. Until we're gone though, he remains bound."
"That is fair enough," the philologist agreed. "I will open the bolt--"
The San 'Shyuum cut off mid-sentence, mouth hanging ajar. The Jiralhanae looked at him with puzzlement, and then through the slightly translucent light of the bolt. His blood-red eyes widened in surprise, teeth baring in anger.
"Packmaster, you need to get up here," the Jiralhanae spoke urgently into his communicator, not taking his eyes of the bolt. "Now. It's him. No, I don't know how!"
[i]If it were any other, I wouldn't believe my eyes,[/i] Jeann'ee marveled, a grin breaking across his face. Through the haze of the isolation bolt, a figure was bent over the Oracle's pedestal. At the Jiralhanae's voice, the figure turned around, and their eyes met.
Behind the barrier, Ahkrin winked. And in a sudden wash of gentle green, the Oracle came to life.
[Edited on 12.17.2012 4:31 PM PST]